Marscurian News

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[size="7"][center]NEW YEARS CELEBRATIONS GRIP NATION![/center][/size]

All over the nation, large celebrations were held to ring in 2012. Every large city had their own form of parties, usually fireworks and large concerts featuring the most popular musicians in the nation. Nowhere were the celebrations bigger than in the port city of Telmana, which has experienced a miraculous revival ever since the attacks it sustained. In all, 2011 will be remembered as one of the best years for Marscurian Siberia, which large amounts of new technology and a massive jump in the economy were experienced, along with the tightening of relations with many nations throughout Asia. The hope is that the nation will build off these accomplishments in 2012, and that this year will be a year of peace and prosperity. However, the past and future have apparently been forgotten this night, while everyone seems focused on the parties going on tonight. From all the staff at Marscurian News, we wish you a good night, and a happy new year.

[img]http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/g/Goldfinger/15.jpg[/img]
Fireworks at Marscury


[img]http://www.mark-potter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/fireworks-minneapolis-051.jpg[/img]
Fireworks in Mietonka

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[u][size="5"][center]Military HQ Centralized[/center][/size][/u]

Recently, the four branches of the military have closed their individual offices, and have finished preparation to move into a combined logistics building. Named the Marscurian Siberian Military Central High Command, the concrete structure consolidates the military command structure, allowing for increased cooperation between branches, and offers the highest levels of new technology, including faster computers and increased internet speeds. Located on the Bira River in the center of Marscury, the building finds itself alongside many of the other large government buildings in the city.

[img]http://eao.ru/Images/Gorod/gen_028.JPG[/img]
The new building constructed for the Marscurian Siberian Military Central High Command

OOC: This is my pentagon IG wonder.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[center][u][size="5"]Agricultural Land Survey Completed[/size][/u][/center]

A survey to examine the types of crops grown in the nation, and how much of the land is devoted to each, has been completed. Unsurprisingly, turnips have maintained the top spot in land use for crops, and cows have maintained a vast majority in the land used for livestock, seeing as these are two of the largest components in Marscurian cuisine. However, crops such as corn and soy, which are traded on the international market, are increasing their land share as farmers attempt to make more money than can be made in the domestic markets.

[u]The Final Survey[/u]
[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Farm.png[/img]
Land Shares for Crops:
Turnips: 57%
Corn: 11%
Carrots: 7%
Soy: 5%
Wheat/Barley/Rye: 5%
Melons: 5%
Apples: 4%
Other: 6%

Land Shares for Animals
Cows: 68%
Chickens: 14%
Sheep/Goats: 12%
Turkeys: 5%
Pigs: 1%

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[u][center][size="5"]Weapons Swapped[/size][/center][/u]
In a recent move, the old RPG-2 systems that were the Marscurian Siberian army's shoulder-fired rocket have been phased out of service and gathered for scrapping. Meanwhile, two new systems, one a medium range and one a long range system, have been put into production for immediate delivery to the army. Like the old system, the two new weapons are reusable to save money.

[img]http://russianguns.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/RPG29-001.jpg[/img]
The medium range MRPG-9

[img]http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/images/2012/01/24/232951/size0.jpg[/img]
The long range MRR-7

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Amurpet:
[size="5"][u][center]Launch Pad Constructed[/center][/u][/size]
At Darem Point, around 22 miles East of Amurpet, work has finally been completed on the launch pad of the Darem Point Space Center. With winter arriving, the frozen ground was easily blasted away with dynamite, allowing work to finish quickly. The launch pad will be used to launch unmanned, and eventually manned, missions. Along with the pad, several support buildings and a mission control facility are also under construction, and are expected to be completed soon. The first launch is expected for the middle of this summer, to deliver a new communications satellite to replace the Veridian Dynamics satellite that is current orbiting, and has become obsolete.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Soyuz_TMA-16_Lifts_Off.jpg[/img]
The launch pad at the DPSC.


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MSSA.png[/img]
The logo of the Marscurian Siberian Space Agency

OOC: Got my IG Space program

Edited February 29, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

[u][size="5"][center]Naval Base Construction Continues[/center][/size][/u]
Today, the exterior of the GVFAB (short for גלובאָקייע וואָדישטאָט פלאָט אָבסערוואַציע ביניען or Glubokiye Vodishtot Naval Observation Structure), has been completed, and the internal components are ready to be installed. The work has been very productive due to the thick ice on the frozen Amur River, allowing trucks to simply drive to the small island in the middle of the river where the large structure is being built. Luckily for the project managers, the forecast for the immediate future has temperatures remaining far below freezing, allowing the steady supplies of materials to continue. On the southern side of the Amur River, the GVFB (short for גלובאָקייע וואָדישטאָט פלאָט באַזע or Glubokiye Vodishtot Naval Base) is under construction, with dozens of trucks making the journey across the frozen river daily. Work on the base is expected to continue long after the river ice breaks up, and the transport of construction materials will likely shift to barges.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/SpaceElevatorAnchor.jpg[/img]
An illustration of the finished observation structure resting on a small island in the middle of the river.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Glubokiye Vodishtot:
[u][center][size="5"]River Declared Ice-Free![/size][/center][/u]
Today, in a highly publicized ceremony, the harbormaster of the Port of Glubokiye Vodishtot, Vladimir Shipl, rode his skiff from the cargo berths on the Northern side of the Amur River to the islands in the middle of the river where the naval observation structures were being constructed, to the Southern side of the river where the naval base was being built. Returning to the port, he offered his official position that the river was indeed ice-free, and there was no risk to commercial shipping operations. Because of this, the government has announced that Sunday, April 15, the Ports of Glubokiye Vodishtot and Telmana would be fully open to commercial operations.

From Telmana:
[size="5"][u][center]Trade Complex Nearing Completion[/center][/u][/size]
This week, workers in Telmana topped out the towers of the new [i]Telmana Globale Handel Complex[/i] (Telmana Global Trade Complex). There are several purposes of the new complex in the city, located on the Amur River right next to the city's extensive port complex. The main central tower, the fourth tallest building in Marscurian Siberia, will serve as the global headquarters for Shif Shipping, the top shipping corporation in the nation. The four towers that circle around the main tower will comprise the Telmana World Trade Center, and will serve as regional offices for foreign companies, mainly shipping companies. The large building and plaza that rests on the river will serve as the headquarters for the Port Authority of Telmana, and will hold all the administrative and customs offices for the port. However, even though the buildings have been topped out, it will still take several weeks to finish the interior furnishings and designs so that the buildings will become usable.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Towers.png[/img]
The TGHC under construction as seen several weeks ago. The shorter towers have been topped out for some time, but the central tower was only topped out this week. The glass curtains which are seen has half-completed in this photograph have been fully finished.

Edited April 15, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Amurpet:
[size="5"][u][center]Troubles Abound on New Metro[/center][/u][/size]
Just a week after its official opening, the Amurpet metro system is facing a wide variety of problems, ranging from off-schedule trains to packed routes. These problems are the general mishappenings that occur when inaugurating a new system, and many solutions are being put in place to remedy the situation. More trains are being placed on especially busy routes, and the computer software that manages timing is being upgraded and debugged. However, the congestion of several lines has been touted as a good sign, showing that the metro system for Amurpet has the potential to be profitable and widely used.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/AmurpetMetro.png[/img]
A picture taken from a traffic camera shows two trains right next to each other at a station on the 6 Line. Poor timing at stations has caused multiple problems like this, including a few near collisions.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Telmana:
[size="5"][u][center]New Ship Class Introduced![/center][/u][/size]

Today, the lead ship of the new class of corvettes was introduced to the public. The ship, the [i]MSS Unconquerable[/i], is the first of the [i]Unconquerable-Class[/i] corvettes, which are intended to replace a few of of the aging [i]Indomitable-Class[/i] monitors in the 1st Fleet. The ship was recently completed at the Obluchye Heavy Engineering shipyards here in Telmana, where its two sister ships, the [i]MSS Pest[/i] and [i]MSS Bashlasn[/i] are being completed, and are expected to be launched in the next few weeks. The new class of ships has many improvements over the old class of monitors. The ships have a 7 foot draft, as opposed to a 4 foot draft that the old monitors had, allowing them to both run the entire length of the Marscurian Siberian section of the Amur River, and to have enough stability to sail in coastal waters, such as those of the Tartar Strait. The ships also carry double the fuel of the monitors, drastically increasing their range from 540 miles to 1,500 miles. The ships will also carry much more advanced radar and sonar systems than the old monitors.

[img]http://cdn2.shipspotting.com/photos/middle/4/2/9/457924.jpg[/img]
The [i]MSS Unconquerable[/i] during its first public outing in the main harbor of the port of Telmana.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[size="5"][u][center]High-Speed Train Begins Service[/center][/u][/size]
This week, the [i]Capital Express[/i], the national high-speed rail system, started regular service. The train runs on two newly built specialty rails that have high-power wires above-head to provide energy to the train's electric motors. As an express system, there are two lines with a limited number of stops. The Northern or Orange line, named for the orange paint on the trains, has stops at Obluchye, Marscury, and Telmana. The Southern or Blue line has stops at Amurpet, Pyotrgrad, Mietonka, and Marscury, with free transfers to the Orange Line. The trains on each line can carry 600 passengers in a total of ten cars, 7 commuter class, two business class, and one dining car that comes complete with wireless internet. Traveling at a top speed of 155 miles per hour, each route takes about two hours to complete, including stops at stations.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MarscurianSiberianNationalRail-3.png[/img]
The logo for the [i]Capital Express[/i], a variation on the Marscurian National Rail logo.

[img]http://www.eao.ru//Images/Gorod/gen_210509.jpg[/img]
The Obluchye Train Station, starting point of the Orange Line

[img]http://www.eao.ru//Images/Gorod/gen_023.jpg[/img]
The Marscury Union Station, where the two lines meet. The station has a special platform for the high-speed lines, and transfer between lines is free at this station.

[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cSw0NGg4bbVL/610x.jpg[/img]
The Obluchye Heavy Engineering HSL at the head of a train on the Orange Line. The large section of orange beneath the windshield designates what line the train runs on.

Edited May 9, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Priamurskiy:
[u][size="5"][center]Global Plague Reaches Marscurian Siberia![/center][/size][/u]
The worst fears that Marscurian leadership have imagined have come true. The plague which has been spreading throughout the West has shown its first signs in the city of Priamurskiy, the twin city of Telmana. Early in the morning on May 18th, Priamurskiy police were called to a house on the outskirts of the city on a report of the two children acting suspiciously in a way that suggested they could be infected with weeaboo. The reports were unfortunately found to be true. The son, Ivan Verberg, aged 16, was found squinting his eyes, puckering his mouth, and holding up two fingers in an attempt to look more japanese. The daughter, Natalia Verberg, aged 14, was found reading a japanese comic book, and stated that some man named Sasuke was her "waifu," which is weeaboo for a significant other. Upon further research, it was found that this Sasuke was not a real person, but instead a character from the popular cartoon program [i]Naruto[/i]. Both children dragged out of the house by police and euthanized. The bodies were burned in an attempt to keep the disease from spreading. Because the children were still human, a condition called "proto-weeaboo," it is thought that they were not contagious; however, the parents of the two have been taken into custody to be put in quarantine and examined. After a week, if the infection is not showing symptoms in the parents, such as a regrowth to a full head of hair in the father and an increase in breast size in the mother, they will be released.

General Mikhail Marantzbaum, commander of the Yoitsu invasion, issued the following statement. "With the recent news of the weeaboo plague spreading in our beloved homeland, I hope that the citizenry understand how crucial our mission in the North is. We are attacking a hive of the weeaboos, a place where they grow, thrive, and spread. By destroying the largest weeaboo concentration in Northeast Asia, we are making the situation so much safer for all our people back home."

In light of recent events, a set of words have been listed as warning signs. Use of any of these words could indicate the development of the first signs of being a proto-weeaboo:
-Kawaii
-Konichiwa
-Sayonara
-Desu
-Baka
-Chan
-Kun
-Pocky
-Manga
-Anime
-Neko

[img]http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/05292008/8/f/a/6/8fa6e5e7da5780_full.jpg[/img]
Ivan Verberg, as seen when police captured him. Note the squinting eyes, shrunken mouth, and V sign utilized in an attempt to make the person look more like an East-Asian or a cartoon character. However, since the infected is still clearly human, and has not fully transformed, this stage is called [i]proto-weeaboo[/i].


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Yiddishweeaboo.png[/img]
One of the stickers that has appeared in many cities throughout Marscurian Siberia, warning the populace of the dangers of the weeaboo plague, and urging them to take action to combat the threat.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Telmana:
[center][size="5"][u]Navy Undergoing Modernization Programs[/u][/size][/center]
With the damage inflicted on the fleet during their assaults on Yoitsu, the naval high command has determined that the time is opportune to initiate a massive upgrade to the ships to make the Marscurian Siberian navy a more effective fighting force. According to the new plan, named [i]Operation Overhaul[/i], the improvements will be divided into three main sectors. The damaged ships will be the first to have the new improvements deployed while in drydock, followed by the other ships when repairs are completed.

1. Improved Weaponry:
-All anti-aircraft missile systems are to be upgraded to modern technology. New missiles will have longer range, larger warheads, and more accurate targeting systems.
-The new SNG-100 100mm naval gun is to be implemented immediately. The gun will be installed on [i]Unconquerable-Class[/i] corvette, replacing the 125mm tank gun currently used, and will be installed on the [i]Ratheneau-Class[/i] frigates, replacing the dual 76mm guns.
-The CM-12 cruise missile is set to be installed on all cruisers and submarines, replacing the CM-11 cruise missile. The new system offers longer ranges, higher speeds, and a larger warhead.

[img]http://en.valka.cz/files/ak-100_143.jpg[/img]
The new SNG-100 naval gun

[img]http://warfare.ru/0702ey70/update/september2006/bazalt2.jpg[/img]
A CM-12 being loaded into a missile tube on a [i]Marscury-Class[/i] Cruiser

2. Improved defense:
-All ships of the 2nd and 3rd fleet, save landing ships, will have electronic warfare measures installed, including jammers and chaff dispensers.
-All ships will have their radar and sonar systems replaced with more modern and powerful systems.

3. Improved Anti-Submarine Warfare:
-A new ship class, the [i]Tunguska-Class[/i] destroyer, will be built with the task of protecting the navy from submarine threats. The new ships will have several anti-submarine weapons including missiles, mortars, and torpedoes, and will be fitted with the most powerful sonar systems available. The two ships in the class, the [i]Tunguska[/i] and the [i]Sutara[/i], will be assigned to the 2nd fleet, which specializes in naval engagement.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/RFNMarshalShaposhnikov.jpg[/img]
The [i]MSS Tunguska[/i], the lead ship of the [i]Tunguska-Class[/i] destroyers.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

Section D: SPORTS
[u][size="5"][center]Soccer Season Starts![/center][/size][/u]
This weekend, the first games of the 2012 soccer season began with a match between the Obluchye Industry and the Telmana Rivermen, where Obluchye won in easy 4-1 game. Later, the Marscury Bears fell to the Mietonka Tigers in a 1-0 game. The Amurpet Mooseriders had an off week, and did not play this week. The stadiums were packed on accounts of both excellent weather and the throngs of excited fans awaiting their chance to see the inaugural game of the Marscurian Siberian Soccer League. The line-up of the teams were full of familiar names from Marscurian Siberia's entries into the Cup of Nations, and the players splitting up to join their hometown teams. Every two weeks, the summary of the games will be published in the newspaper.

To our foreign readers, we would like to remind you that the Marscurian Siberian Soccer League follows MARSCURIAN-RULES soccer. While the rules are mainly the same as the rules of normal soccer or association football, there are two key differences. Primarily, the games cannot end in a tie, and overtime will be added until the tie is broken. Secondly, diving, feigning an injury to try to get a penalty kick, is not only avoided on the grounds of personal dignity, but is also illegal by Marscurian Siberian law, and is punishable by execution.


SCHEDULE OF MATCHES:

SAT 6/2 MAR vs MIE
SAT 6/2 OBL vs TLM
OFF: AMR

SAT 6/16 AMR vs MAR
SAT 6/16 TLM vs MIE
OFF: OBL

SAT 6/30 OBL vs MIE
SAT 6/30 AMR vs TLM
OFF: MAR

SAT 7/14 OBL vs AMR
SAT 7/14 MAR vs TLM
OFF: MIE

SAT 7/28 MAR vs OBL
SAT 7/28 AMR vs MIE
OFF: TLM

SAT 9/1 SEMIFINALS

SAT 9/8 FINALS


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/ObluchyeIndustry.png[/img]
The Obluchye Industry


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/AmurpetMooseriders.png[/img]
The Amurpet Mooseriders


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MarscuryBears.png[/img]
The Marscury Bears


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MietonkaTigers.png[/img]
The Mietonka Tigers


[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/TelmanaRivermen-1.png[/img]
The Telmana Rivermen

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[size="5"][u][center]General Marantzbaum Installed as Bek[/center][/u][/size]
In a move by the Khagan today, General Dov Harmar was removed from his position as Bek of the Marscurian Siberian Armed Forces, and replaced with General Mikhail Marantzbaum. General Marantzbaum has made a name for himself leading successful campaigns in both Canada and Yoitsu, winning stunning military victories for the nation. General Marantzbaum will remain in Yoitsu until after the elections on Monday, after which time, General Moishe Rosen will replace him as head of the occupation forces. Some fringe elements have hinted that it was General Marantzbaum's position of nobility, mainly his distant relation to the Khagan, that has propelled his career to this heights. However, given his impressive record, Marantzbaum has surely earned his new position. In the position of Bek, General Marantzbaum will be the second highest ranked military officer, after the Khagan's role of Commander-in-Chief. For the most part, the Bek remains in Marscury, but can be deployed on campaigns, should the army require their expert leadership.

[img]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120617014235/avatar/images/3/34/Iroh_%28United_Forces_general%29.png[/img]
General Mikhail Marantzbaum

Edited June 17, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[center]Military Enacts New Reforms[/center]

In an effort to make the Marscurian Siberian Army more streamlined and effective, the battle rifle and medium machine gun have been replaced by newer models. The new battle rifle of the Marscurian Siberian Army is the MR-12 rifle, while the standard medium machine gun is the MG-2A1. Not only are these two guns more accurate than their predecessors, but they both chamber the 7.62x54mmR round, the current ammunition used in the M13 rifle, and the round chosen to be the standard round for the Marscurian Siberian military. The new rifles are being built by Marscurian Military Works, and will be first distributed to the 100,000 active duty soldiers before being delivered to the soldiers of The Guard.

[img]http://world.guns.ru/userfiles/images/assault/as24/fal_imbel.jpg[/img]
The MR-12 battle rifle

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/MMG.png[/img]
The MG-2A1 medium machine gun

In other military news, the archaic system of the armies is being reformed from a four army system to a two army system. The 4th Army, also called the Army of the South, is being completely disbanded, and the 3rd Army is also being disbanded, and its structure is being transferred to the 2nd Army, whose original structure is disbanded, as it is a redundant structure with that of The Guard. So now, the only two armies in the Marscurian Siberian Army are the 1st Army, consisting of combat troops, and the 2nd Army, consisting of non-combatant troops and military employees.

Edited August 12, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

Page 8A
[size="5"][u][center]Government Messages[/center][/u][/size]
[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/FarmPropaganda.png[/img]
Farmer!
Your work makes us strong!

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/FactoryPropaganda.png[/img]
Factory Worker!
Your work makes us strong!

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Transportpropaganda.png[/img]
Transporter!
Your work makes us strong!

[J Andres]

[b]CLASSIFIED MESSAGE[/b]
[b]To:[/b]
Moshe Cohen
Marscurian Siberia Ambassador
Sixteen Embassy Circle
Endor Cuidad, J Andres

[b]From:[/b]
HRH Katherine, Princess of Puerto Pacis
Endor Cuidad, J Andres

August 6, 2052

Good Morning.
In further discussions with my Mother, the Queen, she seems to remember Marscurian Military Works accepting contracts and allowing purchases from foreign nations. She insists we had an old catalog around the Castle, but I've searched everywhere without any luck. If we ever did have one, its likely one of the young ones had found it and cut out the images to make collages or something of the sort by now.

Anyways, is this still the case? We've got enough men to police our streets but we don't really have the firepower to do it effectively. Perhaps my brother would still be alive today if our soldiers were armed and on patrol in the city that night. We are looking to purchase various firearms to arm our soldiers with. Please pass this message along to the appropriate authorities within your own government, or executives at Marscurian Military Works.

Best Regards,
[i]Katherine, Princess of Puerto Pacis[/i]

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Obluchye:
[center][u][size="5"]Significant Infrastructure Extensions[/size][/u][/center]
In a move to encourage increased barge traffic on the Amur River, a new stretch of rail and highway is being built between Obluchye and Pashkovo, a city 15 miles to the southwest. The city was chosen due to its close proximity to the industrial center, and its long, straight stretch of river perfect for large groups of barges. The rail will be a continuation of the main northern tracks, but will not contain a new station along the Orange Line of the [i]Capital Express[/i]. The new highway will be a continuation of the Great North Road, moving the official starting point of the road from the Vaulian border station to Pashkovo. The routes will wind along the Vaulian border, as it is a safer and quicker route to the city due to its avoidance of the foothills of the Lesser Khingan Mountains that occupy most of the Grois Rayon. Projections show that the new infrastructure will not be completed before the winter closure of the Amur River in November, but will be completely functioning by the time the river opens next April.

[img]http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae218/mikial21/Transportmap_zpsc7a8b0b6.png[/img]
The updated transportation map of Marscurian Siberia, showing the road and rail extensions to Pashkovo

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Amurpet:
[center][u]New Gun Premiered[/u][/center]
Today, the Marscurian Siberian military, in another cost-saving measure, adopted a new sub-machine gun that is destined to be delivered to all branches of the military. The new gun is destined to save millions of rubles each year as it uses the 7.62x25mm round used in the MP-33 pistol, rather than requiring a separate facility to manufacture the 45 caliber round used in the current sub-machine gun. In addition to saving money, the new weapon is superior to the old weapon in both rate of fire, range, and accuracy, not to mention that the weapon is both lighter and more maneuverable in close quarters.

[img]http://www.weapon.ge/images/258_1.jpg[/img]
The SMG-50, the new sub-machine gun of the Marscurian Siberian military.




From Marscury:
[center][u][size=6]Second Constitutional Convention Assembled[/size][/u][/center]
In Marscury today, the members of the Duma met to begin the revisions to the Marscurian Siberian constitution. Many of the changes are merely upgrades to the document to reflect the times, such as the increase in the number of Duma members from 10 to 12. The Khagan has final say over the completed document, and he has ensured the people that no rights will be taken away and no liberties will be weakened.




From Stonegate:
[center][u][size=6]Rayon Vote To Occur Soon[/size][/u][/center]
In the city of Stonegate, the populace of the Island Special Administrative District will vote to see if their region will be voting to decide if their land will be admitted as the official seventh rayon. The vote will be held on October 15th, and will last the whole day so that the island's approximately 2,000 residents will have a chance to vote. By becoming an official rayon, the island will be open to more investment from the government and will have two representatives in the Duma, but will also become subject to all taxes imposed on all the other rayons and the people will be held to all civil responsibilities.

[Triyun]

In a move of purely "see what happens" social engineering, Tianxia clothing makers were ordered to only import clothes into Mascuria based on the fashion of the America 1980s, all other clothes into the country were embargoed as the Empire eagerly waited to see if it could force Mascurians to wear the new clothes.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Obluchye:
[center][size=6][u]Communist Groups Gaining Ground[/u][/size][/center]
In industrial centers, such as Obluchye and Telmana, the local socialist and communist groups have seen a large surge of new members. Out of the far-left, three main political parties have begun to differentiate themselves.

The Marscurian Siberian Bundist Party is by far the largest of these groups, with 75% of the people who label themselves Communist or Socialist. This group is by far the most moderate, and prescribes to platform based around Marscurian Siberian culture and nationalism. They do no advocate for the removal of the Khagan, as they see him as a key aspect of the Marscurian Siberian identity, but do favor removing all his political power, rendering him nothing more than a figurehead. They also do not endorse state-sponsored atheism. The Bundists advocated for increased social programs, and an increase in the power of unions and the rights of the workers. They also advocate more state involvement in business.

The Marscurian Siberian Communist Party is the second largest of these groups, with 20% of the people who label themselves as Communist or Socialist. This group follows most of the major aspects of Communism. They advocate for the removal of the Khagan and all political power being focused in the Duma dominated by the Communist Party. They continually advocate for increased rights of the workers and more equal pay among the people. They advocate a much more drastic control economy with major government input. Unlike more extreme parties, they do not advocate for state-sponsored atheism or the rejection of the past through perpetual revolution.

The Marxist Party of Marscurian Siberia is the smallest of the groups, with only 5% of the people who label themselves as Communist or Socialist. This group is a Leninist-Stalinist type of Communist party, advocating revolution by the people. They want to not only remove the Khagan, but all remnants of the old regime, leaving only the Duma as the sole source of Authority consisting of only Communist Party members. They demand full worker's rights, equal pay, and full state control of all enterprise. They advocate the removal of all counter-revolutionary ideas in perpetual cultural revolutions.



From Stonegate:
[center][u][size=6]New Rayon Incorporated[/size][/u][/center]
The results of the recent vote have been revealed in Stonegate, and 78% of the votes have been shown to be in favor of granting the island the position as the official seventh rayon of Marscurian Siberia. The second question on the name of the new rayon fell in an even greater landslide, with 98% of all citizens voting for the name Terrestria, the historical homeland of the Terrestrians who inhabit the island. With the new status of the rayon secured, the people will move on to a second election to determine which two citizens will be chosen to represent the rayon in the Duma.



From Marscury:
[center][size=6][u]Old Fashion Making a New Stir[/u][/size][/center]
With the massive influx of 1980s clothing entering the country from Tianxia, a new style known as retro chic has popped up among the young people of the nation with expendable income. In all the trendy hangouts of the cities, ties are becoming increasingly skinny, leg warmers are being worn, and polyester suits are showing up on stand-up comedians.

Edited October 27, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Glubokiye Vodishtot:
[center][size=6][u]Navy Departs for Hawaii[/u][/size][/center]
Before the official close of the Amur River, the 2nd and 3rd fleets of the Marscurian Siberian Navy departed for Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. The ships will remain in Pearl Harbor for the remainder of the winter as they undergo thorough inspection by Tianxian crews to search for any major issues that would require extensive maintenance. All crew members for the ships will depart for Hawaii with their vessels, but only crew members whose position requires them to perform any maintenance on the any of the ships' systems will remain on the islands over the winter.



From Telmana
[center][size=6][u]Amur River Closed for Winter[/u][/size][/center]
The Amur River Police and the Port Authorities of all major river ports have effectively closed the Amur River for the winter in preparation of the eventual freeze, making all river traffic impassible. From now until the river re-opens in April, all transportation must be conducted by either road, rail, or air, and as such customers should prepare for slightly higher prices over the winter as transport slows slightly. However, with the absorption of many old neighbors including Zargathia into Tianxia, imports are expected to flow more easily into Marscurian Siberia over the three bridges over the Amur River, possibly negating the rise in prices seen last winter.

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Amurpet:
[center][size=6][u]New Assault Rifle Adopted[/u][/size][/center]
For the second time this year, the army will be adopting a new standardized rifle. The move comes after several units equipped with the MR-12 rifle complained about the tendency to jam in poor conditions and the strong recoil the rifle's 7.62x54mm round produced in fully automatic firing modes. As such, an entirely new rifle has been designed for superior use in the field. This new rifle has a total of eight moving parts, takes limited training to use, is easy to clean and maintain, and the 7.62x39mm rounds produce much less recoil than the old rounds without sacrificing accuracy or stopping power. The new rifle, the MR-13, is in full production at the Marscurian Military Works factories here in Amurpet, and the first shipment to the army is expected for delivery before the new year.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/AK-103_Assault_Rifle.JPG[/img]
The new MR-13 assault rifle



From Telmana:
[center][u][size=6]Large Construction Projects on Lake Tunguska[/size][/u][/center]
As winter approaches the nation, a large new construction project is occurring on Lake Tunguska between Telmana and Priamursky. The new project is set to allow the dramatic expansion of the Obluchye Heavy Engineering shipyards on the lake. The project with be conducted in three simultaneous sections.

The first section is the removal of the transportation causeway that bisects the lake. This strip of land carries the Eastern Road and two rail lines that transport both cargo and people Eastward to Telmana and across the Amur River to Khabarovsk. A 750 foot section of this causeway will be removed, and a channel 30 feet deep will be dug where it once stood, allowing smooth transport between both halves of the lake.

The second section is the construction of the transportation tunnel. This tunnel will run under the lake, and will take the place of the destroyed causeway. Constructed of 10 75-foot prefabricated segments, the tunnel will carry 3 lanes of westward automobile traffic, three lanes of eastward traffic, one westward running railway, and one eastward running railway. This is expected to be the shortest part of construction timewise.

The third section is the improvement of the shipyard facilities on the lake. Apart from adding more berths and drydocks, the canal from the lake to the Amur River is to be enlarged and deepened. The channel will be marked by large steel gates, which will be closed in the event of chemical spills to prevent toxins from entering the river. Additionally, the gates can be closed or opened to maintain water levels in the lake, should flooding or droughts occur on the river.

[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/%D0%A1%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB.JPG[/img]
The gates between the Amur River and Lake Tunguska, as they are expected to look when completed.

[img]http://www.khl.com/servlet/file/79584_156_preview.jpg?ITEM_ENT_ID=79584&COLLSPEC_ENT_ID=32&ITEM_VERSION=1&FILE_SERVICE_CONF_ID=156[/img]
The prefabricated segments of the transport tunnel under Lake Tunguska. Note the designated sections for both car and rail traffic.

Edited November 20, 2012 by KaiserMelech Mikhail

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Telmana:
[center][size=6][u]Train Derails, 2 Hurt[/u][/size][/center]
In the early hours Wednesday morning, a train carrying construction material based for Telmana derailed in the remote regions of the Mizrekdik Rayon. Along with the locomotive, 29 rail cars jumped the track and rolled down the embankment into the forest below. The conductor in the locomotive and a worker fastening steel beams on the 12th car in the train both received minor injuries and were taken to Marscury General Hospital by helicopter. The cause of the crash is still being investigated, but it is believed that a faulty set of wheels on the locomotive caused the derailment. The OHE-DL-500 series of locomotives, such as the one heading this particular train, has been noted for their particular deficiencies. The wreck is currently being removed by workers, and after an inspection period, the track is set to re-open by the end of the week. Marscurian National Railways would like to inform travelers that all travel to Priamurskiy, Telmana, and Khabarovsk is suspended for the track closure period, and travelers who currently have tickets can exchange them for a voucher or a replacement ticket for a later date.

[img]http://en.rian.ru/images/17209/89/172098966.jpg[/img]
The derailment scene as seen on the afternoon of December 12th.



From Amurpet:
[center][u][size=6]Naval Infantry Receives New Equipment[/size][/u][/center]
At the Amurpet Testing Grounds, the new amphibious tank for the Marscurian Siberian Navy received its final passing scores. The vehicle, which will be dubbed the MAT-12 when delivered into service, is set to be the replacement to the widely popular MAT-63 currently in service. However, the new vehicle is designed to be superior in every way from the old vehicle including increased ranges, increased speed, a larger main weapon, thicker armor, and the ability to carry 7 marines or 1000 pounds of cargo to shore to support beach landings. With a watertight hull, the tank is able to travel several dozen miles through the water, including the open ocean. A first production run of 50 of these vehicles is set to begin, and they will be transferred to various landing ships.

[img]http://www.military-today.com/apc/bmp_3_l1.jpg[/img]
The MAT-12 amphibious tank

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

From Marscury:
[center][u][size=6]2013 Duma Elected[/size][/u][/center]
The votes from yesterday's election have been tabulated, and the 14 representatives of the 2013 duma have been chosen.

[b]From the Marscury Rayon:[/b]
Moshe Rabinovich (Liberal Party)
Abram Alperin (Right Monarchist Party)

[b]From the Bira Rayon:[/b]
Mendel Solomon (Liberal Party)
Iosif Liebmann (Liberal Party)

[b]From the Grois Rayon:[/b]
Pavel Boruch (Communist Party)
Dmitri Libeskind (Bundist Party)

[b]From the Meyrev Rayon:[/b]
Alexandr Schiermann (Right Monarchist Party)
Mikhail Gershanovich (Right Monarchist Party)

[b]From the Bidzhan Rayon:[/b]
Konstantin Alivovich (Vauleyo-Buryatian Party)
Vladimir Tomsky (Vauleyo-Buryatian Party)

[b]From the Mizrekdik Rayon:[/b]
Boris Schaechter (Bundist Party)
Lazar Mlotek (Bundist Party)

[b]From the Terrestrian Rayon:[/b]
Elder Tideseeker (Green Party)
Elder Earthstride (Green Party)

With the increased leftward shift seen in voting trends, it is possible that throughout 2013, the policies of Marscurian Siberia will become much more liberal. There has been no sign of an extended platform for any of the candidates, nor have there been any signals of a coalition between the liberal parties, but it seems like that would be a preferred method of action.